This year you do not have to stress over holiday decorations. Follow these easy steps to make holiday decorating simple and enjoyable!

Do Not Keep Up With the Joneses

Most of the holiday stress that folks experience stems from an invisible pressure to keep up with what everyone in the neighborhood is doing this year. This pressure can bring stress on a family if the holiday budget really just does not have room for more decorating purchases. Use what you have. Enjoy the time spent with your family putting up the decorations rather than stressing over not owning the newest twinkle lights.

Make It a Party

Another element of stress creeps into holiday decorating when everyone in the family is not cooperative. If your family moans and groans when it’s time to trim the tree then make it a party. Have pizza and Christmas goodies. Let your kids invite their friends over. A jolly attitude will lessen the stress and increase the good memories.

Plan Ahead

Before the whole family starts digging through decorations, take some time by yourself to do a quick inventory of what you have, and where you want certain decorations to go. Make a few quick notes that will help guide everyone the night you actually put up your decorations.

Downsize

If your past Christmas decorations have stressed you out, then downsize. Cut out stuff that doesn’t really mean that much to you, and keep it clean and simple. You can donate unused decorations to children’s homes or shelters. You can also save them for another year and simply alternate your decorations to give the appearance of new decorations every few years.

Know Your Limits

Do not put up more decorations than you can reasonably maintain during the holiday without stressing out. Many outdoor lighting decorations and inflatables actually prove to be a lot of work in the long run. Make sure you are ready and able to commit to the upkeep.

Don’t Work Alone

If you will be putting up lights outside in high or hard to reach places, work with a partner. This will keep your much safer and make the work go faster.